Skip to content
  • Students & Alumni
    • Overview
    • Career Services
    • Alumni Relations
    • Student Support
    • Graduate Resource Library
  • News
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Luskin Summit
    • Luskin Lecture Series
    • California Policy Briefing
    • Commencement
  • Students & Alumni
    • Overview
    • Career Services
    • Alumni Relations
    • Student Support
    • Graduate Resource Library
  • News
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Luskin Summit
    • Luskin Lecture Series
    • California Policy Briefing
    • Commencement
Giving
  • Academics
    Departments
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Urban Planning
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Urban Planning
    Graduate Programs
    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
    • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
    • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
    • PhD in Social Welfare
    • PhD in Urban Planning
    • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
    • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
    • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
    • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
    • PhD in Social Welfare
    • PhD in Urban Planning
    Undergraduate Programs
    • BA in Public Affairs
    • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
    • Minor in Gerontology
    • Minor in Public Affairs
    • BA in Public Affairs
    • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
    • Minor in Gerontology
    • Minor in Public Affairs
    Professional Certificates
    • Data Analytics Certificate
    • Data Analytics Certificate
  • Admissions
    Program Specific Admissions
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • Undergraduate Program
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • Undergraduate Program
  • Faculty
    Our Faculty
    • All Faculty
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    • All Faculty
    • Public Policy
    • Real Estate Development
    • Social Welfare
    • Urban Planning
    Leadership
    • Our Dean
    • Board of Advisors
    • Faculty Executive Committee
    • Our Dean
    • Board of Advisors
    • Faculty Executive Committee
  • Research Centers
    • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

      Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

    • Berggruen Governance Index

      Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

    • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

      Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

    • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

      Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

    • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

      Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

    • Berggruen Governance Index

      Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

    • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

      Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

    • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

      Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

    • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

      A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

    • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

      Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

    • Latin American Cities Initiative

      Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

    • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

      Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

    • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

      A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

    • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

      Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

    • Latin American Cities Initiative

      Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

    • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

      Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

    • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

      Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

    • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

      Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

    • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

      Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

    • UCLA Voting Rights Project

      The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

    • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

      Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

    • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

      Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

    • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

      Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

    • UCLA Voting Rights Project

      The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

    All Research Centers
  • Outcomes
Home / Risks and Resiliencies of the Affordable Care Act

Risks and Resiliencies of the Affordable Care Act

Posted in

  • Luskin's Latest Blog

Published on

  • June 21, 2018
  • ACA, Affordable Care Act, health care, Obamacare, public health

Share this Article

A research article published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law by Mark A. Peterson, professor of public policy, political science and law, compares the “political vulnerability and resiliency” of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with the repeal of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act (MCAA) nearly three decades before. “The political-institutional contexts and the processes of coalition change could hardly have been more different for MCCA and ACA,” notes Peterson in his article, “Reversing Course on Obamacare: Why Not Another Medicare Catastrophic?” in the Duke University Press publication. “However, they had some shared vulnerabilities stemming from program design,” he argues. “The ACA survived the political weakness inherent in its policy attributes due to its particular balance and timing of benefits and costs and by being shielded long enough by election results and the constitutional separation of powers to have its benefits take root.” — Stan Paul

Faculty Mentioned in this Article
Peterson w UCLA Background

Mark A. Peterson

Professor of Public Policy, Political Science, Health Policy and Management, and Law; Senior Fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

A specialist on American national institutions, much of Professor Peterson’s scholarship focuses on the Presidency, Congress, interest groups, and public...

Related Articles

Protester holds anti-vaccine poster

‘Medical Freedom’ Takes Backseat to Other Political Priorities

July 28, 2026
Luskin in the News
The evolving movement did expose fundamental tensions and the need for clearer communication between doctors and...
Read More
MAptrsn1

Peterson on California Response to Proposed Congressional Cuts

March 31, 2025
Luskin in the News
Budget resolution could affect Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for low-income people....
Read More
MarkPLAtms116x9

Peterson on Threats to Medicaid Funding

March 18, 2025
Luskin in the News
A proposed budget resolution also could touch Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)....
Read More
Image of hospital building

Peterson on the Struggle to Provide Mental Health Care

February 18, 2025
Luskin in the News
Kaiser Permanente and other California health care plans face a pandemic-induced shortage of health care workers....
Read More
MAPetrsn116x9

Peterson on Move to Freeze Federal Spending

January 31, 2025
Luskin in the News
"Anything that has ... the aroma of dealing with equity or inclusion issues could be put...
Read More
stack of newspapers with headlines on health issues

How California Health Programs Could Change Under Trump

January 21, 2025
Luskin in the News
UCLA's Mark Peterson shares insights into what’s motivating Republican ideas, past attempts to revamp health care...
Read More
Man in suit

Newsom’s Health Care Initiatives in Peril

January 2, 2025
Luskin in the News
UCLA Luskin's Mark Peterson weighs in on what's ahead for the governor and his agenda in...
Read More
MPitn24

Peterson on Future of the Affordable Care Act

November 13, 2024
Luskin in the News
The landmark law is more popular than ever and unlikely to be taken on by incoming...
Read More
MAPITN24

Health Care Policy and the 2024 Election

October 11, 2024
Luskin in the News
Health care experts assess which presidential candidate could best handle an issue important to voters....
Read More
Two men on stage with microphones, against white and blue backdrop

Keeping Guard Against the Forces Behind Jan. 6

February 14, 2024
Luskin's Latest Blog
Sandeep Prasanna MPP/JD '15 shares his experiences investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol at an...
Read More
Front of prison

Uncovering Climate Hazards in California’s Prisons

August 25, 2023
Luskin in the News
Research by UCLA Luskin master of public policy students finds state is ill-prepared to protect the...
Read More
Two men at podium

UCLA Public Policy Community Celebrates Exceptional Alumni and Students

May 8, 2023
Alumni
Reception highlights the 'incredible, influential, important, world-transforming things our alumni are doing.'...
Read More
Learn more about UCLA Luskin

Find contact information and get answers to your questions.

Contact Us

Public Affairs Building
337 Charles E. Young Drive East
Los Angeles, California 90095

Linkedin Youtube Instagram Facebook X-twitter
Campus Resources
  • Map, Directions, Parking
  • Directory
  • Academic Calendar
  • Careers
  • Map, Directions, Parking
  • Directory
  • Academic Calendar
  • Careers
School Resources
  • About
  • Our Dean
  • Administration
  • Board of Advisors
  • Contact Us
  • Visit Us
  • About
  • Our Dean
  • Administration
  • Board of Advisors
  • Contact Us
  • Visit Us
© 2026 Regents of the University of California
  • Emergency
  • Accessibilty
  • Privacy & Terms of Use
  • Emergency
  • Accessibilty
  • Privacy & Terms of Use
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube Threads
Academics
Departments
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Urban Planning
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Urban Planning
Graduate Programs
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
Undergraduate Programs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
Professional Certificates
  • Data Analytics Certificate
  • Data Analytics Certificate
Admissions
Program Specific Admissions
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
Faculty
Our Faculty
  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
Leadership
  • Our Dean
  • Board of Advisors
  • Faculty Executive Committee
  • Our Dean
  • Board of Advisors
  • Faculty Executive Committee
Research Centers
  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

    Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

    Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

    Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

    Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

All Research Centers
Outcomes
Common Search Terms

Results will show as you type.